Respiratory Illness Ins and Outs: Winter Health

I always love the sounds of the Christmas season from sleigh bells to children’s laughter, a crackling fire to carolers. Wait a minute, do you hear that? Coughing, sniffles, and sneezing? That’s right, it’s cold and flu season too! But don’t worry, because there are plenty of ways you can fight respiratory illness and enjoy your Christmas feasts! With preventative measures, appropriate treatments, and a better understanding of the major respiratory illnesses we can all stay jolly while the mistletoe hangs!

While many of the main respiratory illnesses have similar symptoms, varying of course in severity, it can be helpful to know what’s what to better combat and treat your illness should you come down with one. First, there are viral respiratory illnesses, or those that are caused by a virus. The flu, rhinovirus (better known as the common cold), and RSV are all examples of viral sicknesses. The key thing to know about viral respiratory illnesses is that you should focus less on “treatment” and more about “management.” These viral illnesses are contrasted with bacterial illnesses such as pneumonia, sinusitis (a sinus infection), and mycoplasma pneumoniae (better known as a respiratory tract infection). The main difference here is that medicines, and in certain cases antibiotics, can help to treat and cure these bacterial infections.

So now that we know the different realities of various respiratory illnesses, what can we do to build up walls against these illnesses in the first place? First, especially during this winter season, you should be washing your hands! We all touch our faces more than we realize, so it’s crucial to stop the spread of germs that we unintentionally do to ourselves. Second, be sure to prioritize rest. It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do, so be sure to get your shut-eye. Finally, regularly clean the surfaces around you with disinfectant wipes. At work, at home, in your car—these are all places we can clean where germs can lurk!

Hopefully now we are all well-armed to combat this respiratory illness season. Small steps can make a big impact on your health, so don’t neglect the little things this year. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your physician to create a plan or receive treatment, and this is even easier than ever with your access to telehealth as a Liberty HealthShare member! This Christmas I hope we all hear more laughter and cheer than coughs and tears as we celebrate the birth of our savior! Merry Christmas, and happy New Year!